Travers post positions drawn, American Pharoah draws No. 2

SARATOGA SPRINGS >> American Pharoah finally took second in something.

Not in a race of course — the Triple Crown winner has been far too brilliant in competition to lose this year — but the post position draw for the 146th running of the Grade 1 $1.6 million Travers Stakes held at Druthers Tuesday evening.

American Pharoah drew the No. 2 post and was unsurprisingly made the 1-5 first choice selection in the morning line odds. The 3-year-old colt is coming off a dominant win in the Haskell Invitational Aug. 1 in which the public sent him off as a 1-10 favorite.

“The horse is doing well, that’s more important than what hole he drew,” trainer Bob Baffert said through a conference call. “We just worry about getting him there, making sure he’s sharp. As long as he’s sharp and ready to roll were happy.”

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The Triple Crown winner is scheduled to arrive at his stable in Saratoga Wednesday afternoon.

Frosted, who finished second at the Jim Dandy earlier in the Saratoga meeting, drew post six and was given 6-1 morning line odds while Jim Dandy winner Texas Red drew post No. 4 and listed as third choice at 8-1.

“It’s perfect for us,” Frosted trainer Kiaran McLaughlin of the draw. “Our horse is doing great and you have to let (jockey Joel Rosario) work out a trip. You can’t really worry about the pace.”

The rest of the 10-horse field (in order of their morning line odds) is Keen Ice (12-1) in post seven, Upstart (15-1) on the rail, Smart Transition (20-1) in post 10, Frammento (30-1) in post five, Tale of Verve (30-1) in post eight, Mid Ocean (50-1) in post three and King of New York (50-1) in post nine.

The connections of Upstart, who finished third in the Haskell behind American Pharoah and Keen Ice, are still considering scratching from this field to enter the Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 19 at Parx Racing.

“We’re still on the fence,” Upstart trainer Rick Violette Jr. said. “He’s won two races (at Saratoga) so there are a lot of pluses to staying in and the post position doesn’t detract us. If American Pharoah doesn’t get on the plane that would be a real plus.”

After years of riding stars of the race track, including his scheduled mount on American Pharoah Saturday, jockey Victor Espinoza has agreed to dance with them. A press release on ABC’s website announced the addition of Espinoza to next season of a show that pits celebrities against each other in a dance competition. The 43-year-old Mexican-born Espinoza made the announcement on ESPN2’s SportsNation.